Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-30
TELEGRAMS TO THE STAR
The Prohibisionisss Capture she state
-


0f SWamps, Alligator and Oranges.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. sept. 30.-From Columbia
and Baker Counties on the north, through suwan.
nee, Clay, Alachua, Marion, orange and sumter 70
Levy, on the Cult and 90 Brevard on the Atlantic,
the sale OF liquor Is now prohibited. with half q
dozen elections on hand and more In prospect This
practical sweep OF the state by the Prohibtionists
has been as unexpected as IL Is complete, mixing
up not only the political parties but wiping out
the color line In such manner as 20 work confus-
ion to the slate-makers That prohibition would
ever be reached In this state was never seriously
considered. The natives are so far removed from
the current movements In the North that they
were not supposed TO take much Interest In II
The negroes have not been in the habit OF training
with white leaders
The great travel from the North suggested the
ACCESSIBILITY or keeping well-Stocked bar-rooms In
order that as much money rs possible might be
retained here. The temperance workers were un-
known and without influence, and when they
sought such legislation as would permit elections
by local option for the suppressionof the liquor
trafllc, it was not only readily granted a tie
easiest method OF getting nd OF a set Of crankS.
but these alleged cranks were permitted TO frame
their own law. This, as Will be seen later on, 10
the cause OF walling and gnashing OF teeth
counties elections were brought on under the local
option law. While the polltal hustings were de-
serted the churches were filled.
strange TO say, in this land of bitter hatred be-
tween the races engendepd during the 1flden
campaign OF 1876 white preachers, often accom-
panied by white female workers, went down into
the colored churches and prayed with a vim for
the abolition OF the liquor traffc. The negroes
a
turned 20 pleasure when they found that their
votes were wanted 10y the whites. Coored men OF
prominence were appealed 10 TO take their stand
not "by," but members or the better classes"
In other words the idea carefully spread forth
that 1.-The Lord hath made the people ONE
The liquor men, on the other hand relied on the
want or interest among the natives. the 'cupidity
OF the YANKEE settlers" and the well-knOwn love
OF the negro for liquor 10 defeat prohibition. They
introduced the Texas letter OF jefferson Davis 70
influence the eN-Confederates but this was Offset
by a letter written 10y MIR. Davis 10 a friend In
Hamilton County, In which he declared that while
opposed TO state prohibition, he believed IN the
right OF every community acting for itself 10
move nuisances and TO promote local order
AS the elections passed on, one by one the liquor
men were treated To "A series OF surprises. Ala
| chua County, second Congo region where
| negroes are a. thick as feas went dry by clear
| negro majority. orange County. the great center
or Northern immigration, voted TO keep liquor out.
| The ex-Confederates OF Santa Rosa and Franklin
found room under Jen Davis local option letter TO
save their state rights scruples, while running
out what the preachers characterized as 1.-THE rum
| devil" Thus TO date fifteen elections have been
held, and OF these twelve have voted dry, namely
| Franklin, Santa Rosa, Suwannee Baker, Polk
Columbia, Alachua, Marion, Clay, BreyNd, orange,
| Three counties failed 10 give dry majority and
| II was here that the liquor men found how badly
| they had been euchered by the prohiDitlonists In
one-fourth OF the voters or a county by petition 20
| the commissioners can have an election within
districts. III the county should go wet, but one
two districts should happen 10 vote dry, they are
SO declared Notwithstanding the general result In
| the county. on the other hand, n the county
should go dry, but several districts should go wet
the rule is reversed ana the Wet districts are de-
/ clared dry. This makes the prohibition cause an
| ever-increasing factor. IL can always win, but
| never lose.
| Other elections are rapidly coming on. Hills
boro County Will vote to-day aud IL Is foregone
conclusion that the prohibltionsts viii win. Lee
and Pasco Counties Will vote on the 10th OF octo-
| Der, and Bradford Will vote four days later In
these counties the ants are making no fight, owing
| 10 the combination OF church, negro Confederate
| and federal influences. Petitions for election
| are being circulated In the county In which st.
Augustine Is situated, and the Old spanish strong
| hold will surrender TO the Ideas OF New England.
In many other counties petitions are being sgned
up, so that when the winter ~ over II Is confidently
| expected that nine-tenths or Florida viii he as
| dry as a whistle
The last great fight will be IN jacksonville. and
| the prohibitionists Will win. This II owing Ia "A
variety o; causes. The liquor element In JacRson.
Vile is strong and influential, but Il has played o
disastrous part In local politics. The bodness u
the gambling hels and the houses or prostitution
has called down ON several occasions the indigna-
ton or the people They tired OF the efforts &c
the whisky ring and Its peculiar allies 10 gain and
hold power, and Will vote for anything which VIII
cripple the enemy. When jacksonville shall nave
been reduced Florida Will STU be- marshy enoug b
but exceedingly dry 10 man who wants a drink.